Lacing machine



F. E. WIRTZ LACING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1952 15 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. '7, 1948 Arroe Mr-ys F. E. WIRTZ LACING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 llhllllnllllrl I.- II I IJHHU IJI. I I l|||| \II I! I I I I ATTOE/VE-YS Jan. 1, 1952 F. E. WIRTZ v 2,530,871

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1, 1952 F. E. WIRTZ 2,580,871

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 -15 Sheets-Sheet 4 zaMQ ab ATTQe/VEYS Jan; 1, 1952 F. E. WIRTZ 2,580,871

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 sheets-sheet s F. E. WIRTZ LACING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. '7, 1948 Y Fen/v4 f. 14/? T2 BY W, A4; A65 A-rv-oeA/EYs Jan. 1, 1952 F. E. WIRTZ 2,530,371

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets$heet 7 //6 Arr-0e IVE-Y6 Jan. 1, 1952 Filed Oct. '7, 1948 F. E. WIRTZ 2,580,871

1 /15 ArToeA/E-Yci F. E. WIRTZ LACING MACHINE Jan. 1, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. '7, 1948 //v VE-NTOB Femvk E- W/RTZ fl/s 147' TOENEYS Jan. 1, 1952 F. E. wlR'rz 2,580,871

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 1O Jan. 1

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LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 ///5 14 7- Toe/vsKS Jan. 1, 1952 F. E. WIRTZ 2,580,871

LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1948 15 Sheet'sSheet l4 W 2: {80 22: 270 5 a" 3i,

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LACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 LE D WN q H o a NEEDLE UP C E5 L TU 0 LE UP /& A TTOB/VEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1952 LACING MACHINE Frank E. Wirtz, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,335

28 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved lacing machine particularly adapted to bind cord around the stack of windings protruding from and extending between slots in rotors or stators for electric machines and thereby tie the stack or bundle of windings securely together to prevent their accidental displacement.

One of the objects of .the present invention is to provide a machine which, after 'awound stator or rotor is placed in proper position thereon, is adapted automatically to lace a binding cord around the winding loops extending from one end of said rotor or'stator. -A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic stator or rotor lacing machine adapted to lace a single cord from a supply spool around the stack of winding loops extending from the rotor or stator, forming interlocking cord loops tightly about said stack of windings extending from the stator or rotor, to tie them securely together and revent accidental disarrangement or vibration thereof.

By constructing this machine so that a single cord from a supply spool may be laced to form interlocking loops, the necessity of bobbins and therefore the repeated rewinding and replacement of empty bobbins by fully wound ones. is completely eliminated.

One advantage gained by the use of the present machine is that stators or rotors laced thereby are more uniform in the spacing of the binding loops and the tensionlat which said loops are drawn about the stacked wires, than those laced by the generally used manual method.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stator or rotorlacing machine. The cover has been laid back to disclose the needle operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the machine with cover removed, cams exposed and the cord supply spool shown. Certain parts are shown in section for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, part sectional view showing the driving mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the timing switches on the machine.

, Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a part of the holder indexing mechanism. This view is taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig.7, is a perspective view of a stator completely laced by the present machine.

, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the needle-mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the machine showing the needle extending through a space between the windings into the interior of the stator and hooking the single cord preparatory to pulling the cord through the said space as the needle is retracted, thus forming a loop extending through a space between the windings of the stator.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the needle pulling the cord loop through the stator winding space toward the exterior of the stator.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the needle extending over the stator windings and engaging the single supply cord to draw it through the loop, now riding on the needle, when said needle moves on its retracting stroke and sheds said loop.

Fig. 12 shows the needle retracted and the loop, shed by the needle, having the hooked cord extending therethrough.

Fig. 13 shows the shear hook engaging thecord when the stator has been completely laced.

Fig. 14 a sequel to Fig. 13, shows the shear hook locating its hookedcord in proper position relatively to the cut-01f shear which severs the cord laced in the stator from the source of supply.

Fig. 15 is a rear perspective view of the needle mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a development chart of the two cam slots in. the twin cams.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the pivoted driving mechanism of the needle shaft taken along line l1-.-l| of Fig. .18..

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line "3-48 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a chart showing the status of the stator supporting member, the needle and the threader at 15 intervals during a single rotation of the twin cams.

Certain primary elements of the machine cooperate to lace a single cord around the projecting bundles or stacks of winding loops in a stator whereby the interlaced cord loops securely hold together the wires in said bundle or stack. These primary elements are; a stator holder which is periodically rotated through a predetermined arc; a hook needle of the knitting or crocheting type, which is reciprocated toward and from the stator, raised and lowered relatively to the stator and rotated clockwise and counterclockwise; and a threader which raises and lowers concurrently with the needle and is also ro-' tated clockwise and counterclockwise through a predetermined arc at its upper and lower positions. I I

The stator 20 shown in Fig. '7, has been completely laced by the present machine. This stator has 32 slots and two sets of field windings Insulating paper is The stator holder of the machine is in the v form of a turntable having four upright posts upon which the stator is placed. A core. on the holder fits into the stator and has four projections which slide into respective slots of the stator properly locatingit on the holder. Mechanism is provided in the machine which intermittently rotates the statorholder thereby presenting every other space between stator slots from which windings extend, for entry bythe reciproeating hook needle during machine operation to lace a stator.

To understand more clearly the details of construction hereinafter set forth, it may be advantageous, at this time, generally to describe the functions of the machine during one cycle of operation in the lacing of astator.

Starting with the needle extending through a space between adjacent stator windings into the interior of the stator and immediately above the stack of stator laminae, the hook needle, as shown in Fig. 9; will, upon its being retracted from the stator on its rearward reciprocation stroke, grasp the single cord extending from the threader and. draw it; in theform' of a loop, through said space to the exterior of the stator as shown in Fig. 10.. After the needle is retracted sufiiciently to clear the stator windings or more specifically, after said needle is' completely out of the space between said windings; mechanism starts. to raise the needle to a level above the stacked windings so that, when next it moves forwardly, the needle may pass over the windings. While the needle ismoving upwardly and rearwardly, the stator carrier is indexed, that is, it is rotated. through. an arc of 11 9. Before said indexing is completed. the. needle will have reached its extreme rearward" or retracted position and will have started. on its. forward stroke toward. the stator. Rotation of the stator during indexing tensions the loop carried by the needle, angularly on the stator windings. As the needle moves forwardlythe loop thereon will slide on the needlafrom its hook end toward its supported end; see Fig. 11. During this time I shed by the needle at which time the 'cord loop, hooked thereby, will be drawn through the shed loop, see Fi'g;'12t* thus forming interlaced loops around the windings" stack. At this time also the stator holder is again rotated" through an arc of 11 A to bring the proper .spaee between windings int'o alignment with the needle preparatory to its next forward stroke. After the needle reaches theposit'ionshown in Fig. 12,

'65 ward the hook end thereof and finally will be prevent. ravelling.

it starts to move downwardly as well as rearwardly and remains down. until the needle has reached its full retracted position, has moved forwardly, penetrated the stator winding space, picked up the cord and has retracted suificientiy to clear the stator as aforedescribed. Sixteen such: cycles completes full lacing of the stator after which the cord is severed and the starting and finishing ends thereof tied together to These operations may be followed sequentially on the operations chart Fig. 20' where the circle A indicates stator indexing, B needle movements up and down; C needle reciprocation, D needle rotation, E cord manipulation, F threader rotation, and G threader movement up and down, all at'l5" intervals during the cycle.

Driving mechanism Fig. 1 shows the entire machine in perspective with the guard cover.30 thrown. back to expose the. upper mechanism. The machine comprises two main compartments one above the other. The lower compartment is formed by a base, 3|, upon which four corner posts 32. are provided, which support the intermediate plate 33. Four corner posts 34 are carried byplate 33 and support the upper platform shown in plan. view in Fig. 2. Posts 34 are secured to the upper platform 35 by bolts 36.

As shown in Fig. 4, the upper compartment between the intermediate plate 33' and the. upper platform 35 contains the twin cams which, as will be described, actuate mechanism to operate' the lacing mechanism. A hole in the, in.- termed'iate plate 33' receives a flanged collar 3.8 which is secured to said plate by bolts 39. Collar 38 supports the outer race of .a ball bearing 40, the inner race of which is fitted upon and rotatably supports the. cam shaft 4|. A flange 42 is provided on said. cam shaft. The lower cam 45 of"the twin cam assembly has a central opening fitting, about the cam shaft, said lower cam resting upon the flange 42 of the shaft and being. secured. thereto by bolts 46, thus cam 45 rotate's with shaft 4|':. An annular extension on' the lower cam 45, concentric. with shaft 4|, fits into an opening in the bottom. of' the barrel shaped, upper cam. 48, when saidficams are. as-

sembled. Bolts 49 secure the upper cam 48 to the lower cam 45 both of which are of the same outside diameter. Each cam has a particularly designed, annular groove in its peripheral surface, cam 45 having the groove 50 and cam 48 the groove 5|. Fig. 3 is a side view of the twin cam 45"48 assembly and especially shows the relative curvature of their respective grooves 50 and 5|. The chart of Fig. 16 shows a fiat. development of both grooves 50 and 5| of. the respective cams 45 and 48.

Platform 35 has an opening in which a ball bearing assembly 52 is supported so as to be coaxial with the ball bearing 4.0 inthe intermey diate plate. Shaft 4| fits' into the innerrace: of ball bearing 52. A locknut 5301i. shaft. 4I| maintains the'shaft in. proper'position relative. to the ball bearing 52.

The end of the shaft 4| extending beyond the inner race of ball bearing 40 and into. the lower compartment beneath the intermediate plate 33, has a bevel gear 55 keyed to it; This bevel 55 meshes with a pinion 56 secured to a stub shaft 51 journalled in two' ball bearings carried in. the block 58- which is attached to. the lower side. of the plate 33 by bolts 59. Theen'd of shaft 5! extending beyond block 58 has a grooved pulley keyed thereto so as to rotate therewith, said pulley being operatively connected, by belts, with a main driving motor, not shown, but secured to the base 3| within the lower compartment. The belts, not shown, are covered by a housing H attached to the machine. A hand wheel 83 is attached to pulley 80, outside said housing BI so as to be available to the operator if it is desired to turn the machine by hand.

The stator carrier and its indexing mechanism Within the upper compartment and directly beneath the platform 35, shaft 4| has a gear I0 attached thereto so as to be rotated thereby. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6, gear 70 is shown meshing with gear II which is attached to one end of a stub shaft I2, journalled in two spaced ball bearings 13 and I4, the former being secured in a recess in platform 35, the lat ter, contained in a recess in the block 15 secured to the-upper, outer side of said platform. An idler gear 16 meshes with gear II, said idler gear being secured to a stub shaft 11 journalled in a bearing 18 carried by the platform 35. Idler gear I9 meshes with a gear 19 which is attached to a shaft 80 journalled in the two spaced ball bearings 8| and 82, the former housed in a recess in the platform 35, the latter in a recess in block 83 secured to the upper, outer side of said platform. A neck 84, coaxially attached to or being integral with gear 19 extends therefrom, said neck having the Geneva-gear driving disc 85 secured thereto or formed integral therewith in spaced relation so that said disc is coaxial with the neck 84 and gear I9. A pusher lug 86 extends from the side of disc 84 adjacent to but spaced from gear I9. The peripheral surface of neck 84 is not completely circular but has a flat side 81 formed in the peripheral surface thereof.

Gear I8 is twice as large as gear II, thus gear TI is rotated two complete revolutions for each one revolution of gear I0. Thus, for each single revolution of the twin cams 45 and 48, gear H will be rotated twice because gear 18 is attached to the same shaft M as said cams. Gears I6 and 19 are equal in size to the gear II, thus they too will rotate two complete revolutions for each single revolution of gear I0 and the twin earns 45 and 48. The Geneva gear driver disc 85, be-

ing secured to or formed integral with gear 19 will also rotate twice completely for each revolution of said twin cams and gear 19 will also rotate twice completely for each revolution of said twin cams and gear I0.

A stub shaft 90, journalled in two ball bearings supported in the platform 35 has the Geneva gear 9I attached to its end extending into the compartment beneath the platform 35 and a gear 92 is attached to the opposite end of said shaft which extends above the platform. As shown in Fig. 6, the Geneva gear disc 9| has six equally spaced slots 93 extending radially inwardly from its peripheral edge. Between each two adjacent slots the peripheral surface of the Geneva gear disc 9I has an arcuate recess 94. These six arcuate recesses all have the same radii, equal to the radius of the circular surface portion of the neck 84 connecting the gear 19 and disc 85. As shown in Fig. 6, while one of these arcuate recesses embrace the neck 84, the Geneva gear disc 9| is locked against rotation, however, this does not prevent the neck from being rotated by the gear I8. As the gear 19 rotates the neck portion 84 and the driver disc '85, the circular portion of the neck is eventually rotated out of the embracing recess 94 of the Geneva gear disc and the flat side 81 of the neck is moved into juxtaposition with the Geneva gear disc. There will be a clearance between the flat side and the edge of the Geneva gear disc, thus the said disc is no more locked against movement but may be rotated. As the driver disc rotates the pusher lug 86 will approach and eventually enter the adjacent radial slot 93 after which the Geneva gear disc 9I will be rotated by said pusher lug until said lu 86 again moves out of the occupied slot. Now the circular portion of the neck 84 will again be embraced by an arcuate recess 94 to lock the Geneva gear disc against rotation while the driver disc continues to rotate. Thus for each revolution of the driven disc 85, the Geneva gear disc 9| is rotated one sixth (Me) of a revolution. Gear I9 integral with disc 85 rotates twice for each revolution of the twin cams 45 and 48, thus the Geneva gear disc will twice be rotated through one sixth /6) of a revolution while the cams rotate once and consequently gear 92 will likewise be actuated /e, of a revolution twice for each revolution of said cams.

The carrier upon which the stator is supported while it is being processed by the machine is in the form of a turntable 99 comprising a centrally apertured body portion I00 provided with an outwardly extending, annular flange IOI, the peripheral edge of which is provided with gear teeth I02, meshing with the gear 92. A portion of body I08 beneath the flange IN is journalled in a sleeve bearing I03 secured in an opening of the platform 35. Four posts I04 extend upwardly from the flange WI. The upper end of the body portion I08 has an annular recess I 85 defined by a surrounding wall I86 in which four inserts I01 are secured in spaced relation so as to enter open ends of stator slots, properly to locate the stator when said stator is placed on the carrier to rest upon the four posts I04, as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. Within the central aperture of the carrier portion I00 there are provided spaced sleeve bearings I08 which movably support a part of the threader to be described.

The lacing needle The needle I25 used in the present machine is not of the ordinary kind in which the thread or cord extends through an eye therein and is constantly carried therein, but on the contrary needle I25 is of the crocheting or knitting type having a hook end which is adapted to engage and catch the thread or cord for pulling it to form interlocking loops. The shanks of the hook needle I25 is secured in a chuck I26 carried by a rod I21.

As has previously been stated, needle I25 has three distinct motions; first, it is rotated about clockwise and counterclockwise, in order to place the open side of the hook end toward the cord so that the needle may hook or catch the cord and draw it when said needle moves on its retracting stroke; second, the needle moves up and down. In its up position Figs. 11 and 12, the needle may pass over the winding stacks in the stator as said needle is reciprocated and in its down position Figs. 9 and 10, the needle clears and passes directly over the stack of laminae of the stator and also passes through a space between windings in adjacent stator slots as said needle is reciprocated; third, said needle and its :rod I21Tis reciprocated, forward Figs. 9 andll, topa'ss over or through the stator and rearward Figs. .16 and ".12, :to draw a cord loop over :or

through the stator.

iNeedZe rotation For the :following description reference may be made to Figs. 1,2, 3, 15, 17, 18'and :19, especially Figs. 17,18 and 19 which detailedly show the -;me,chanism providing for a rotating, raising and lowering and .a reciprocatin needle shaft. .As

shown in Fig.2 the needle rod I21 is splined for a portion {of its length at the end opposite the chuck I26. This splined portion comprises :equally spaced, longitudinal grooves I28 in its peripheral surface. Splined portion of rod I21 extends :coaxially through an opening I29 in block .136, said opening being larger in diameter than the rod. One edge of this block I36 has a rectangular, longitudinal recess I3! "throughout its e tire length, the outer portion thereof being wider and shallower than the inner portion. A plate I32 is secured to this one edge of block I35 by screws I33, thereby closing the-recess and making it an open ended channel in which the rack I34 is slidably supported. The teeth I35 on the rack are exposed in the transverse opening I29 in the block I36.

diameter than the two hub portions I36 and I39 which extend coaxially from opposite sides of the central portion. Iwo ball bearing assemblies I46 and MI fit into the opening I29 in block I39 the inner race of bearing I46 fitting over and supporting the hub I36 of pinion I36 and the inner race of hearing I M fitting over andsupporting the hub I39 of said pinion. Centrally apertured cover caps I42 and I43 are secured on opposite sides of block I each cover cap having an annular extension on its inner face, fitting into opening I29 in block I36 and engaging the outer race of the adjacent ball hearing. The inner races of said ball bearings are engaged by the respective sides of the toothed portion I31 of the pinion I36 and hold the pinion in proper position in block I36 as shown in Fig. 18.

Block I provides the pivotal fulcrum supporting the needle rod or shaft I21 so that raising and lowering of .the needle is made possible.

Block I35 has an opening I65 in its one side, while plate I32, attached to the opposite side of the block, has a similar openingl46 coaxial with opening 545. It will be seen in Figs. 17 and 18, that the center line of openings I45 and I46 intersects the center line or axis of the pinion I 36. Figs. 2, 3 and 8 show the platform 35 of the machine having two oppositely disposed ,stanchions I41 and I48 mounted thereon. Each stanchion has an opening at its top end, both openings being-concentric. A pivot pin I49 in .the opening of stanchion I41, extends into the opening I46 of the plate I 32secured to block I36 and a similar pivot pin I56 in the opening of stanchion I46, extends into the opening I65 of said block. Thus block I36 is pivotally supported upon pins I49 and I of the respective stanchions I41 and I48 so that said block may rock to permit :raising and lowering of the needle shaft about the axis forming the center of pins I49 and I50.

'down with the 'cam follower I58.

'Two spaced parallel posts I55 are secured betweenthe intermediate plate '33 and the platform 35. Each post has aflanged end I56 secured-to the bottom of the intermediate plate 33 by screws. Between them these posts I55 slidably carry a block I51 which has a lug I58 extending therefrom into the groove 5I of the upper cam 48. As the cam48 rotates, block I51with'i'ts cam follower lug I53 is slid up and down on the'posts I55. A link I59 has one end hingedly attached to .block I5! and theother end to the rack bar I34, so that the rack bar I34 is moved up and The hinged link I59 is necessary to permit rocking of the block 136 about the axis of its supporting pins I49 and I56 as the needle rod or shaft'is raised and lowered, as well as the concurrent slidingof the rack bar I34 in block I36 in response to'the straight up and down movement of the cam follower block I51 on the two vertical and parallel posts I55; This mechanism for rotating the needle shaft or rod I21 is designed and 'constructed to turn said shaft clockwise, as viewed from the needle end, through approximately as the rack bar I34 is moved through its upward stroke by cam 48 and counterclockwise the same degree as the rack bar moves through its downward stroke. One revolution of cam 46 moves the rack bar up and down, thus the needle rod or shaft is rotated in one direction and the other, approximately one-half revolution for each-revolution of the twin cams 45 and 48.

Needle shaft raising and lowering mechanism Cam 45'actuates the .needle shaft I21 up and down about the axis of pins I49I50 supporting the fulcrum block I30. The cam 45 is operatively connected to the needle shaft I21 by mechanism comprising, a pair of spaced, parallel posts I65 secured to the intermediate plate 33 and extending vertically therefrom toward the upper platform 35, see Fig. 3. A saddle block I66 has two parallel passages, spaced to fit upon said parallel posts whereby said saddle block is slidably carried by said posts. This saddle block I66 has a cam follower lug I61 extending therefrom into the groove 56 of the cam 45 whereby, in response to rotation of said cam, the saddle block is slidably moved up and down on posts I65. Two links I68 and I69, extending slidably through openings in the upper platform 35, are hingedly secured at one end, to thesaddle block I66, one link on one side of said block and the other link on the opposite side thereof. The other ends of these two linksare similarly hinged to opposite sides of a saddle block I1I] which is slidably carried by the'vertical posts I H and I12, rigidly secured to the top of the platform 35 (see Figs. 3 and 14). A collar I13 s1idably fits about the needle shaft I21, said collar having a projecting lug I14 which is pivotally secured to and between two spaced ears I15 and I16 on the saddle block I15 by a pin I11. By means .of the mechanism described in this paragraph, the cam 45 during one complete revolution will raiseand lower the needle shaft I2? which, as has been stated, is supported by block I 35 fulcrumed on the pins I49 and I56.

Mechanism for reciprocating the needle and shaft As heretofore described, the gear1!) is attached to the drive shaft M to which the twin cams 45 and 45 are also secured, thus gear 15 rotates at the same speed as said cams. Gear 1I secured to stub shaft 12, meshing with gear 10, which is twice the size of gear 1I, thus makes two revolutions for each single revolution of gear or earns 45 and 48. On the portion of the stub shaft 12 extending beyond the block 15, there is attached the hub portion of a rotor I80 having an arm I BI extending radially therefrom. In the upper surface of said radial arm there is provided an undercut, longitudinal slot into which the head of a bolt I82 slidably fits. A collar I83 fits over this bolt and a nut I84 on the bolt locks said bolt and collar in any adjusted position longitudinally of the radial arm I8I so that said bolt is maintained in the selected eccentricity relatively to the axis of the stub shaft 12. Collar I83 has an ear extending from its annular wall to which the forked end of a lever or link I85 is hingedly secured. The other end of link I85 is pivotally secured to a member I86 so as to be movable in a horizontal plane relatively thereto.

This member I86 is hinged to the forked portion of lever I81 one end of said lever being pivotally anchored .to the block I88 by a pin I 89. The two prongs I90 and I9I of the member I86 each have an inwardly extending lug adjacent theouter end, said lugs projecting into the annular groove I92 in the collar I93 adjustably secured to the needle shaft I21 by the set screws I94.

Rotation of the eccentric arm I6I of member I80 causes the link I85 to rock the lever I81 back and forth on pivot pin I89 thereby resulting in a reciprocation of the needle shaft I21. The amount of reciprocative travel of said shaft I21 may be varied by adjusting the position of the stud I82 relatively to the stub shaft 12. Adjustment of the collar I83 on shaft I21, shifts the range of needle reciprocation relatively to the axis of the stator carrier 89.

Inasmuch as the eccentric I8I makes two revolutions for each single revolution of cams 45 and 48, inasmuch as cam 45 causes the needle shaft I21 to be raised and lowered once for each cam revolution, it may readily be seen that when the needle is up, it is reciprocated out and back as well as when the needle is in its lower position. Specifically the arrangement of the groove 50 in cam 45 is such that the needle shaft remains at rest for a while in its upper and also in its lowermost positions. During these rest periods the needle shaft is completing a certain range of its forward reciprocation and then passing through a similar range of its rearward reciprocation at both, upper and lower positions of the needle shaft respectively. This assures that the needle is away from and clears the stator in the carrier 99, when said needle is being raised or lowered, thereby avoiding damage to the stator and to the needle.

The needle threader and its operating mechanism This machine is adapted to lace cord about the winding stacks in a stator to bind them securely together. The cord is taken from a supply spool 200 supported in any suitable manner on the machine and provided with means for placing a satisfactory tension on the cord when being drawn from the spool.

The cord must be placed in proper juxtaposition to the needle I25 when it is at its fully extended or in its out positions both up and down, so that the hook end of the needle can catch or hook the cord as said needle moves on its retracting or return stroke. A threader or guide is provided for this purpose said threader comprising a tubular member 20I rotatably and slidably supported in the sleeve bearings I08 within 10 the central passage of the core or body I00 of the stator carrier 99. At its lower end, member 20I has an enlarged annular head provided with a circumferential groove 202.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the platform 35 is shown having two depending brackets 203 and 204, oppositely disposed and adjacent the longer sides of said platform. Each bracket has a pivot pin 205 and 206 respectively, both in coaxial alignment, the center line of which intersects the axis of cams 45 and 48 as shown in Fig. 3. An actuating lever 201 has a bifurcated end comprising oppositely disposed, circularly shaped prongs 208 and 209, the former pivotally supported on the pin 205, the latter on pin 206. The other end of lever 201 is also forked, the prongs 2I0 and 2H having inwardly extending lugs which project into the peripheral groove 202of the tubular member 20I and mechanically connect lever 201 with said member. Means 2I2 hingedly connects lever 201 with the two links I68 and I69 so that as the cam 45 moves the saddle block I66 and its attached links I88 and I69 upwardly and downwardly, the lever 281 will likewise be moved about its pivotal supports 205 and 205 moving the tubular member 20I, attached to said lever 201, upwardly and downwardly in bearings I08.

As has previously been stated, tubular member 28I is not only raised and lowered axially, but it is also rotated back and forth through an arc of approximately 180. The mechanism to rotate member 20I comprises a disc 2I5 attached to the lower side of the Geneva-gear driver disc in any suitable manner. Disc 2I5 has a diametral key way in its outer surface in which a headed bolt 2I6 is adjustably secured by the tightening of the nut on said bolt. A collar 2I1 is rotatably carried on bolt 2 I 6, said collar having an ear extending from its annular edge to which one end of a link 2I8 is pivotally attached. The bolt 2 I 6, as shown in Fig. 3, is secured to the disc 2I5 so as to be eccentric relatively thereto. The other end of link 2I8 is pivotally attached to an car on the collar 2I9 which encircles the tubular member 20I and is adjustably secured thereto. Rotation of disc 2| 5 with the driver 85 will rotate the eccentric bolt 2I6 about the center of said disc, the link 2I8 thereby being moved longitudinally to cause rotation back and forth of the collar 2I9 and-the tube 20I attached thereto.

The end of tubular member 20I extending beyond the bottom wall of recess I05 in the stator holder I00, has a disc 220 secured thereto in any suitable manner, said disc having an upright extension 22I in which the threader sleeve 222 is secured so as to be radial of the tubular member 20 I. This threader sleeve is adjustable radially relatively to ,the axis of said tube 20I. The cord 225 from the supply spool 200 extends upwardly through the tube 20I and then through the radial threader sleeve 222.

Fig. 3 shows the threader sleeve 222 beneath the needle I25 when said needle is in its lowermost position andready to move on its return or retracting stroke. In Fig. 11, the needle is shown in its upper positions, over the stator windings and the threader sleeve positioned above the needle." These positions of the threader sleeve beneath and above the needle are necessary in order that said sleeve may position the cord 225 in the path of needle movement so that the hook end of the rearwardly moving needle may catch or hook said cord and draw it outwardly of the stator to form a loop.

The saddle block I86 and its cam follower I61 

